Article
Farmers' Perception of Technology Use in Cassava Processing in Akoko South West Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria
International Journal of Agricultural Social Economics and Rural Development (Ijaserd), Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026), hlm. 52–63
Abstrak
This study examined farmers' perceptions of technology use in cassava processing in Akoko South West Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive research design using a survey approach. Four specific objectives guided the study: to ascertain the respondents' socio-economic characteristics; determine the level of use of cassava processing technologies; identify constraints to using the identified technologies; and determine farmers' perceptions of using the identified technologies in cassava processing in the study area. All farmers involved in cassava processing in the study area constituted the study population. A multistage sampling procedure selected 120 respondents. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 55.8% of the respondents were female, 50% were married, and Primary School Leaving Certificate (28.3%) was the most commonly reported level of educational attainment. Similarly, 69.2% of the respondents processed cassava using a motorized grater, followed by 54.2% who used a screw jack or presser, while 46.7% used a machine for peeling cassava tubers. Additionally, cassava processors perceived the improved technologies as reducing drudgery (x̄ = 4.60) and increasing cassava processing output (x̄ = 4.29), but they could pose health hazards if not properly handled and maintained (x̄ = 3.96). Major constraints to technology use among the respondents included lack of awareness (81.0%), high cost (78.7%), and small-scale processing (75.0%). It was also found that some socio-economic characteristics of the farmers were associated with technology use. The findings showed that although improved technologies offered advantages over the crude methods used in cassava processing, awareness of and use of these technologies among respondents remained low. The study recommended developing technologies appropriate for small-scale processors, including affordable, readily accessible options that an individual or small group can operate.